Foot section of a collapsible pull-out bed

ABSTRACT

A NUMBER OF THE TRANSVERSE WIRES OF THE MATTRESS SUPPORTING SPRING FABRIC, INSTEAD OF BEING ATTACHED BY COIL TENSION SPRINGS DIRECTLY TO THE SIDE RAILS OF THE FRAME OF THE FOOT SECTION, ARE ATTACHED TO ANGLE SHAPED SIDE MEMBERS HINGED TO AND UNDERLYING THE ANGLE SHAPED PARALLEL SIDE RAILS OF THE FRAME. SAID ANGLE SHAPED MEMBERS ARE SWINGABLE INWARDLY TO RELAX THE SPRINGS AND MAKE FOR A SOFTER SEAT. THE TOP FLANGES OF THE FRAME STOP ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID ANGLE SHAPED MEANS UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TO KEEP THE MATTRESS FROM CROWNING IN THE MIDDLE.

Sept. 28, 1971 w. R. FLATFORD FOOT SECTION OF A COLLAPSIBLE PULL-OUT BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1969 INVENTOR. W/Ll/AM R. HAW-0RD P 28, 1971 w. R. FLATFORD FOOT SECTION OF A COLLAPSIBLE PULL-OUT BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1969 INVENTOR. WILL/AM P. FL 4 TF'ORD 9% A TTORIVEY United States Patent O 3,608,105 FOOT SECTION OF A COLLAPSIBLE PULL-OUT BED William R. Flatford, Atlantic Highlands, N.J., assignor to Super Sagless Spring Corporation, Bayonne, NJ. Filed Apr. 16, 1969, Ser. No. 822,846 Int. Cl. A47c 23/08 US. Cl. 5232 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A number of the transverse wires of the mattress supporting spring fabric, instead of being attached by coil tension springs directly to the side rails of the frame of the foot section, are attached to angle shaped side members hinged to and underlying the angle shaped parallel side rails of the frame. Said angle shaped members are swingable inwardly to relax the springs and make for a softer seat. The top flanges of the frame stop angular movement of said angle shaped means upwardly and outwardly to keep the mattress from crowning in the middle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to the foot section of collapsible pull-out beds of the type generally shown in US. Patent No. 2,829,382 issued Apr. 8, 1958.

(2) Description of the prior art In the prior art, the mattress supporting spring fabric comprised transverse wires connected to side rails of the foot section of the collapsible bed, by coil tension anchor springs. These springs had to be tight to prevent crowning of the mattress when the bed is collapsed. The tightening of the springs caused a hard seat which was not comfortable. If the springs were not tight, crowning of the mattress would result. Furthermore in prior constructions, the spring fabric when sat on, bellied downwardly from the points of connection of the tension springs to the inner ends of the horizontal flanges of the side rails of the foot section frame, forming a hammock, so that persons sitting on the sofa tend to slide toward the longitudinal mid-portion of the sofa, which makes for discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a foot section of a collapsible bed of the character described, which will provide a soft seat and which nevertheless is provided with means to prevent crowning of the mattress when the bed is collapsed.

Aonther object of this invention is to provide a construction of the character described comprising a mattress supporting spring fabric movably connected to the outside of the rails of the frame for the foot section, and below the upper side of the frame, and which fabric may remain in substantially horizontal condition as it is depressed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in structure of the character described, means pivoted to the lower, outer ends of the side rails of the frame, and interconnected by mattress supporting spring fabric, and said means being nested within and underlying the rails to limit upward and outer swing movement of said means, to thereby prevent crowning of the mattress when the bed is collapsed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable bed construction of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which may be incorporated into beds now in use, and which shall yet be practical, comfortable and efiicient to a high degree.

3,608,105 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 ice Other objects of this invention willin part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates the foot section of a collapsible pull-out bed. When the pull-out bed is collapsed, the foot section 10 is at the top as shown in FIG. 1, a short fold section (not shown) hinged to the foot section and extends downwardly therefrom at the front of the sofa, with an intermediate bed section (not shown) being hinged to the lower end of the short fold section and extending rearwardly and disposed beneath the foot section in spaced relation thereto. This type of bed is shown in said Patent No. 2,829,382. A folded portion of a mattress is disposed between the foot section and intermediate section.

The foot section 10 comprises a frame 11 having parallel side rail portions 12 interconnected by a cross-rail 13, the corners of the connection being curved as shown at 14. The transverse rail 13 is at the front end or foot end of the bed when the bed is pulled out, with all the bed sections in a horizontal plane, and the side rails 12 then extend rearwardly or toward the head end of the bed. However when the bed is collapsed, together with the mattress, the foot section is rotated through an angle of and moves to a higher level and then the outer ends 15 of the side rails are at the front of the sofa into which the bed is collapsed and the transverse rail 13 is located at the rear of the sofa, at the sofa backrest. Foot section 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in the collapsed condition of the bed.

The frame 11 is made of angle shaped metal. The side rails 12 have top horizontal inwardly extending flanges 12a from the outer ends of which vertical flanges 12b extend downwardly. The transverse rail 13 may be of round or tubular cross-section.

As heretofore constructed, the horizontal flanges 12a of side rails 12 were formed with spaced holes 18. In prior constructions, the mattress supporting spring fabric comprised integrated or interlocked longitudinal and transverse wires, connected by coil compression springs directly to side rails, and to the transverse rail of the foot section. In the present construction embodying the invention, the cross-rail 13 has holes 19. The mattress supporting spring fabric or platform for the mattress 20 comprises parallel longitudinal wires 21 interlocked or integrated in any suitable conventional manner with parallel transverse wires 22, the same way as heretofore. The foot ends of the wires 21 are connected to rail 13 by coil springs 24 in the same way as heretofore. Some of the transverse wires 22 are also connected by coil tension springs 25 to openings 28a. Between the openings 18a on each side rail are a plurality of openings 18 which will not be used. There are six such openings 18 on each side rail for purpose of illustration. Of course these six openings 18 on each side rail need not be made when the present invention is incorporated into a new bed, but old beds may be converted for incorporating the present invention. In such case the openings 18 may remain and simply are not utilized.

In accordance with the present invention, the vertical flanges 12b of side rails 12 are formed with a plurality of horizontal aligned short slots 30 located adjacent to the lower edges 31 of said flanges. Any suitable number of such slots may be provided. Four slots on each side rail are shown for purpose of illustration. These slots are disposed betwen the six holes 1 8 of each side rail. At least two spaced slots should be used when employing pivoted members 35 as shown in the drawing.

Each member 35 is generally of angle-shaped crosssection, and elongated, being somewhat longer than the distance between the first and sixth hole 18 of each side rail.

Each member 35 comprises a vertical downwardly extending flange 36 from which a horizontal flange 37 extends inwardly. Member 35 underlies side rail 12. Flange 36 lies against the inner surface of flange 12b. Flange 37 lies against the underside of flange 12a. The lower edge 39 of flange 36 is disposed just above the alinged horizontal slots 30 of flange 12b. Extending from the lower edge 39 of flange 36 are outwardly and downwardly curved books 40 passing outwardly through slots 30 and around the lower edges 31 of flanges 12b. The hooks are somewhat greater than 180 in angular extent and are part cylindrical, to allow members 35 to swing inwardly and downwardly.

At the outer end of flange 37 of each member 35, is an upturned, upwardly and in wardly inclined shoulder 45 from which a flange 46 extends horizontally inwardly. Flange 46 is formed with holes 47 preferably spaced apart similarly to the spacing of holes 18 in flange 12a. The shoulder portion 45 is located just inwardly of the inward edge 50 of flange 12a, while flange 46 is in the plane of flange 12a.

The spring fabric 20 which supports the mattress may have its transverse wires 22 spaced as heretofore but they are connected by coil tension springs 52 to holes 47, instead of to the holes 18 as heretofore. Springs 52 could be somewhat shorter than springs 25 or of the same length if desired.

When the bed is collapsed, the mattress pushes up against the underside of the spring fabric 20 and up against the wires 22 which are connected to members 35 by springs 52. The collapsed mattress thus holds angle plates 35 up in the position shown in FIG. 2, when no one is sitting on the collapsed sofa. In prior constructions the fabric had to be very tight to prevent crowning of the mattress. This tightness of the fabric made sitting on the sofa uncomfortable. When the bed is fully collapsed, a pillow is placed on the fabric 20 so that persons may sit on the sofa. This fabric, when tight enough to prevent crowning of the mattress did not offer a soft enough seat.

However with the present construction, as a person sits on the sofa, especially near an end of the sofa, the adjacent member 35 or both will swing inwardly, thus shortening the distance between holes 47 on opposite members 35, and allowing springs 52 to relax and thus providing a softer spring fabric.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated, the arc about which flange 46 moves when the member 35 pivotally moves and the distance between the arrows is the distance the fabric 20 can shorten on each side. Furthermore it will be observed that the fabric as a whole can move down while retaining its horizontal platform shape. When the springs are all attached to the flange 12a, the fabric would hammock,

4 upon being depressed, tending to move the person sitting, toward the middle, between side rails 12.

When no one is sitting on the sofa, crowning of the mattress is prevented because flanges 12a contact flanges 37 and prevent further upward swinging of the members 35.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the fabric is connected to the side rails further out than in prior constructions. In prior beds the fabric was attached to the inner ends of flanges 12a, while with the present construction, the connection of members 35 is with the lower edges of flanges 12b which are spaced apart a greater distance than the holes 18. This increased spacing further prevents hammocking of the fabric 20 when a person or persons sit on the sofa.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a modified construction. The side rails 12 of FIG. 5 are the same as in FIGS. 1 to 4 except that slots 30 are replaced by pairs of holes 61. However instead of members 35, there is employed, a plurality of rocking members 60 made of wire for connection to springs '52. There may be three rocking members 60 on each side for connection with openings 61 in flanges 12b of rails 12.

Each rocking member 60 is made of a single piece of hardened wire, and comprises a pair of parallel vertical portions 62 formed with hooks 63 at their lower ends for engaging holes 61. Extending forwardly from the upper ends of portions 62 are parallel portion 64 having open loops 65 at their inner ends interconnected by a longitudinal portion 66. The springs 52 engage loops 65. Wire portions 62 normally lie against the inner surface of flange 12b. Portions 64 lie against the underside of flange 12a. The operation of the structure shown in FIG. 5 is same as for FIGS. 14, except that the members 60 may individually rock on each side rail.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative only.

I claim:

1. A bed frame having a pair of side rails, a pair of side members, means to pi votally connect said side members to said side rails, a mattress supporting spring fabric comprising coil tension springs connected to said side members, said side rails having means to limit upward and outward pivotal movement of said side members relative to said side rails, to bring said fabric to a predetermined uppermost plane relative to said side rails, and said pivotally connecting means including means to allow said side members to pivotally move downwardly and inwardly toward each other, to move said fabric down to a plane below said predetermined plane.

2. The combination of claim 1, said frame being a frame of a foot section of a collapsible pull-out bed.

3. The combination of claim 1, and said fabric including coil tens-ion springs attached directly to said side rails.

4. The combination of claim 1, the pivotal connections of said members to said rails, being located below the level of said fabric.

5. The combination of claim 2, said side rails being of angle-shaped cross-section, and having inwardly extending top horizontal flanges from the outer ends of which vertical flanges extend downwardly, in the position of said foot section when said pull-out bed is in fully collapsed condition.

6. The combination of claim 5, said pivotal connections of said side members to said side rails being located adjacent the lower ends of the vertical flanges of said side rails, in said position of said foot section.

7. The combination of claim 5, said side members being of angle shape cross-section and comprising horizontal inwardly extending portions lying at the underside of said horizontal flanges of said side rails, in said position of said foot section, and from the outer ends of which, vertical portions extend downwardly and lie against the inner faces of said vertical flanges of said side rails.

8. The combination of claim 5, said side members being elongated coextensive and of angle-shape cross-section and having inwardly extending horizontal flanges lying adjacent the undersurfaces of said horizontal flanges of said side rails, and from the outer ends of which vertical flanges extend downwardly and lie adjacent the inner surfaces of the vertical flanges of said side rails, and said pivotal connections of said side members to said side rails being located at the lower ends of said vertical flanges of said side rails and side members.

9. The combination of claim 7, said vertical flanges having openings adjacent the lower ends thereof, and the pivotal connecting means of said members to said side rails, comprising hooks on said vertical portions passing through said openings.

10. The, combination of claim 7, said members further comprising portions extending upwardly from the inner ends of said horizontal portions of said members and disposed inwardly of the inner edges of said horizontal flanges of said side rails, and said members further comprising horizontal portions extending inwardly from said upwardly extending portions, and having means to engage said coil tension springs.

11. The combination of claim 7, the points of connection of springs to said side members being inward of said side rails, and the pivotal connecting means being located below and outwardly of said points of connection of said springs to said side members.

12. The combination of claim 4, said side members being located beneath and inwardly of said rails.

13. The combination of claim 8, said pivotal connections comprising spaced integral hooks extending from the lower ends of said vertical flanges of said side members and received in slots formed in the vertical flanges of said side rails.

14. The combination of claim 13, said side members further comprising flanges extending from said horizontal flanges of said side members and disposed in the plane of the horizontal flanges of said side rails and formed with openings disposed inwardly of said horizontal flanges of said side rails to receive engaging means on springs of said fabric.

15. The combination of claim 14, said horizontal flanges of said side rails having openings receiving engaging means on other springs of said fabric.

16. The combination of claim 11, and other springs of said fabric connected to said side rails outwardly of the points of connection of springs of the fabric to said side members and inwardly of the pivotal connecting means of said side members to said side rails.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 781,694 2/1905 Tandy 5226X 2,958,375 11/1960 Bond 297-456 3,151,344 10/1964 Okura 5260X BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner A. 'M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5261; 267-112 

